Hige vs. Otaku

Bakemonogatari

It’s probably the standard reaction to a Akiyuki Shinbou anime, but after watching episode one of Bakemonogatari I felt like I was missing something. Not so much in the ‘WAHHH ABSTRACT I DON’T UNDERSTAND’ way, but rather a walked-in-half-way-through sort of sensation. For some reason I thought it was a sequel of sorts to another anime, having not really kept up with the finer details, but a brief scan around the minternets suggests it’s a completely new series (albeit based on a set of light novels). It’s baffling, particularly that opening montage which seems like a recap, but gorgeously so. Shinbou & SHAFT brings the sexy regardless of how coked off its tits the delivery is and I’m a number one fan of his style of direction.

The characters seem intriguing enough but Senjōgahara’s paranoia started to irritate as did Araragi’s seeming inability to explain his intentions (who wants to write an article on strained communication in anime? I would, but it would descend into a frustrated tirade almost immediately). Still, I’m much more interested in this than I was with Shikabane Hime, which is the very loose comparison I made while watching. The wee otaku-meta scene on the bike was a nice touch, too. A definite WATCH.

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

The big show for me this season, as it is for most people by the looks of things. BONES can pretty much have their wicked way with me in any fashion they see fit… even if I’m quite tsundere towards their anime in the beginning. This is usually because their broader-picture approach to storytelling initially leaves a lot to be desired. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, however, seems like quite a departure from both their usual themes and how they tell their stories. There’s not a bloated sci-fi concept in sight (short of a few robots at a exhibition that actually exist in reality) nor is there the hint of an epic fantasy adventure just around the corner. Just a disaffected tween and her struggle to deal with a strained family dynamic and her own pubescent ennui. And, like, a really big fucking earthquake.

It’s a pretty fantastic change of approach for the studio. The episode opens with the protagonist Mirai standing in the ruins of Tokyo city declaring her hatred for her family and the world at large. Time then skips back a day or two before the quake and we learn exactly why she’s such a narcy little bitch. The show perfects taking a measured approach to setting up her life and explaining perhaps why she’s so irritated by the world around her. Rather than taking a side, BONES gives us reasons to sympathise with, as well as judge, her attitude. I get the feeling the main thrust of the show will be her working through the mix of blatant ungratefulness as well as the seemingly justified frustration. There’s a very interesting social-realism slant to the show that anime rarely gives much credence to (with the opposite often being the case, giving its target audience escapism from all these real daily frustrations) which immediately makes it stand out as something special.

I have to give particular credit to how Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 makes you forget the distinct sense of foreboding it sets up from the start. I was so charmed by Yuuki’s gleeful innocence that I ignored the inevitable conclusion his character was facing. Normally I’d spoil it for myself and predict the various outcomes of characters – especially the ones that are so likeable (they never get out unscathed) – but BONES worked their magic and I was blind-sided by the episode’s ending (knowing what was coming, but not really considering the wider consequences). There’s so much going on with this show it’s really kind of exciting to think of what’s coming next. Not a disappointment and a categorical WATCH.

Well, that’s a relief. Being a GAINAX devotee can be a sadomasochistic occupation at times. Short of a show having Yoshiyuki Sadamoto character designs and the golden touch of Anno and/or Tsurumaki, it’s very difficult for fans to be dead-cert on the ever-capricious studio’s output. Particularly if they’ve only just recently had a phenomenal success (remember all the dross that followed FLCL?). Luckily, under the watchful eye of Hiroyuki Yagama (make another bloody film, you!), Shikabane Hime: Aka turns out to be a solidly entertaining experience. For its first episode, at least.

The visuals are reassuringly comprehensive. GAINAX have gone with their house style character design – that is to say, mild Sadamoto plagiarism – and made it a touch more angular to compliment the eerie atmosphere they’re aiming for. The animation itself doesn’t necessarily dazzle but maintains consistency and has a lot of surprising creativity during the action sequences. What really impressed me about Shikabane’s aesthetics, though, were the gorgeous twilight cityscapes and the use of light in general. I’m massively gay for lighting in animation and Shikabane has a good handle on it – street lights glow in ways that evoke hazy summer evenings, cities are awash with false neon to fend off the night. Good use of lighting can elevate somewhat average animation and make it look special, and this show is an excellent example of such. It’s typical to have such cautious faith at the beginning of a new series, but if this mid-level quality is maintained throughout the run then Shikabane Hime will be a reliable visual experience.

Story-wise, we’re getting a pretty conventional supernatural horror story here, albeit in a very comprehensive, entertaining fashion. Shikabane doesn’t necessarily do anything unexpected with its story or plot, but more importantly it doesn’t strictly abide by the tropes typical of the genre and offer up bland predictability. Fan-service is present, of course, but not jarringly so. The characters are archetypes but likeable and have potential to develop some emotional depth. No particular scene stood out as a ‘wow’ moment yet my attention was absorbed in a way that didn’t feel like I was wasting my time watching. All in all, as with the animation, I’m cautiously optimistic that Shikabane will develop into a solidly entertaining yarn. Part of me is certainly relying on the GAINAX factor to push it above its current mediocre-to-good existence but I can see myself enjoying it even if doesn’t pierce the heavens with its mighty drill-phallus.

Of course, all this reads like the apologies of a fanboy and I actively admit to such concession making. But that’s not to say that Shikabane Hime: Aka isn’t worth keeping an eye on or that GAINAX have shat out another average filler show. Just keep your expectations grounded and you’ll have a good time with it, of this I am sure.

First episodes are a tricky beast. You’re torn between the barrage of first impressions/intuitions and the knowledge that most anime takes two or three episodes to really hit its stride. This week I’ll be wrestling the duality with Kurenai and xxxHOLiC: Kei.

Kurenai

The OP looked like it was animated with Flash – but in the best way possible. More anime should put this kind of creative effort into their OP rather than the usual montage tedium. Kurenai’s aesthetic in general is gorgeous, actually, with crisp high quality animation and beautiful character design. It reminds me of a lot Red Garden without the controversial snozzes, which probably isn’t a coincidence had I the time to check Wiki. Storywise it was structured well with a lot of plot and just the right amount of ambiguity. The characters similarly are intriguing and likeable. I’m sure Murasaki will appeal to the loli fanboys out there, but then does she count as loli when she is actually seven-years-old? I’ll be interested to see how the ‘sphere behave with regards to her. Hopefully not in the relentlessly upsetting way I’m imagining.

Likelihood of watching episode two: Definitely. This was solidly entertaining and completely beautiful to look at.

xxxHOLiC: Kei

For the love of god, Production I.G., please maintain Kei’s standard to the level set in this first episode. This exactly how a xxxHOLiC anime should be handled. Solid production values, a firm grasp of the characters and, most importantly, brilliant atmosphere. I’m probably a little too harsh on the first series but I wholeheartedly blame the thoroughly enjoyable film Production I.G. released before it. It massaged my expectations and demonstrated they had a keen understanding of what makes the manga great, thus making the mediocre anime effort seem all the more disappointing. Kei, however, is spot on. At least at this point. Its animation quality is still a little murky but I’m sure a widescreen transfer would resolve any minor visual qualms, and everything else feels right. xxxHOLiC definitely was one of those shows that had to tackle my deep-seated love for the manga before any reasonable assessment could occur, and I was probably ready to pounce on it from the opening credits, but these days I’m much calmer and receptive. Hopefully this won’t be a repeat of what happened two years ago.

Likelihood of watching episode two: High. I may actually turn into a monster if it disappoints me in the same way the first series did, however.

My swift and brutal first impressions of the new season’s shows. This time, episode one of Bus Gamer, To LOVE-Ru and Itazura na Kiss.

Bus Gamer

Bus Gamer is an ugly, ugly show. Seemingly it’s shonen in type but has the worst kind of shoujo character design with its creepily long fingers, stupid hair and excessive accessorising. The animation itself is rigid and has that murky, insipid quality you find in a lot of cheaply outsourced Korean animation. All three of the protagonists are unlikable, even Saitou who I assume is meant to be the personable one. They’re just atypical lazy archetypes that inspire nothing except disdain for their lack of depth or charm. Bus Gamer obviously owes a lot to Akagi/Kaiji for its inspiration but doesn’t even come close in terms of quality or sophistication. The parallels would be easy to ignore if Bus Gamer had enough personality to set it apart, but no, it’s just relentlessly mediocre verging on awful. It attempts to foster a cool attitude but comes across as stilted and contrived. The action, one of the key elements of the show about street fighting, is equally as dull and poorly directed. A pretty shoddy and unappealing specimen, to be honest.

Likelihood of watching episode two: Hells nah.

To LOVE-Ru

It almost seems cruel to review a show that exemplifies everything I hate about anime, but To LOVE-Ru is so shameless about it I’m finding it hard to have serious teeth-gnashing contempt. It’s got everything you want from a brainless shonen romance show: goofy humour; countless varieties of moe; relentless fanservice (avec pornographic moaning); a completely ridiculous, paper-thin sci-fi plot. The animation lingers around Saturday morning cartoon quality but occasionally spikes when there’s a ridiculously flamboyant costume change or surprisingly good CG sequence. It didn’t offend me in the way I was expecting, but that doesn’t mean it’s anything less than pants-on-head retarded.

Likelihood of watching episode two: Go die in a fire! ^_^

Itazura na Kiss

Surprisingly enjoyable. Initially I thought it was yet another example of fight against the strict hierarchical mentality of Japanese society with love~~ and that the formula wouldn’t stretch to maintain a 13/26 episode series. Then circumstances change with Kotoko, female protagonist, moving in with Naoki, unrequited love interest, and his mental family. I’m not massively familiar with shoujo comedy conventions but this particular example was quite quirky and hilarious in places. Fundamentality it still feels formulaic in plot and character but there are a lot of surprising touches that heighten its charm (Naoki’s insane mother being my favourite). Aesthetically speaking it looks quite 1980s with its character design (judging by the original manga that isn’t much of a surprise) and the animation quality is solid if unremarkable. Quite hard to criticise objectively, really.

Likelihood of watching episode two: Recommended for those who like shoujo comedy, but personally . . . I don’t like stupid girls.

In the spirit of a feature (II. III) I wrote at the beginning of the autumn season I’m introducing Firsties, an on-going column dedicated to first episodes of newly released anime. This time I’m looking over Macross Frontier, H20: Footprints in the Sand and Rosario + Vampire. Brace yourselves for lots of sighing and ambivalent shrugging of shoulders.

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